SeaWorld, the popular aquarium known for its high flying killer whale shows, has responded to recent petitions demanding musical acts cancel their upcoming SeaWorld performances. Every weekend from February 1 to March 9, 2014 SeaWorld will host an event called "Bands, Brew & BBQ," which will feature food, entertainment and high profile musical acts. Recently, a number of bands have pulled out of the SeaWorld gigs after viewing the documentary "Blackfish." The film chronicles the life of Tilikum a 12,000 pound bull orca responsible for killing three people.
"Blackfish" raises some startling questions about keeping mammals as large and intelligent as the killer whale in captivity for human amusement. Several acts including Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, REO Speedwagon and Heart have all canceled their performances. In a statement to CBS SeaWorld responded to the recent petitions that have circulated around the internet asking remaining bands to pull out of their shows. "This is a coordinated campaign of digital harassment and does not in any sense represent the opinions of the American public. A far better measure is the number of people actually coming to SeaWorld."
"CBS This Morning" ran a segment on what some are calling "The Blackfish Effect" saying that only two of the original performers, Justin Moore and Scott McCreery are still going to perform. It remains unclear if the pressure from fans and petitions from animal activists will sway the performers into pulling out of "Bands, Brew & BBQ" too. SeaWorld also told CBS that they were disappointed in the bands' decisions not to perform. SeaWorld is planning on replacing those acts.
In addition to acts pulling themselves from the SeaWorld show singer Joan Jett is demanding the aquarium stop using her song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" during killer whale performances. In a letter sent to SeaWorld President Jim Atchison Jett said she wants SeaWorld to refrain from blasting her music at "sound sensitive" animals. "I was surprised and upset to see on YouTube that SeaWorld used "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" as the opening music for its cruel and abusive 'Shamu Rocks' show."
Rocker Tommy Lee of Motley Crew fame has also demanded SeaWorld stop using Motley Crew songs during their "Shamu Rocks" show. Lee sent his letter to SeaWorld last year saying, "I'm writing to ask you not to play any Motley Crew songs at any of SeaWorld's parks during this sad show. Although we like to torture the human fans who willingly come to our shows, we don't want to be a part of making innocent animals' lives hellish." Fans of Colombian singer Shakira have taken to Twitter to ask her to follow suit and pull her song "Suerte" from the Shamu show.
The making of the film "Blackfish" as well as all of the negative PR SeaWorld has been receiving resulted from the events of February 24, 2010. Dawn Brancheau a beautiful, charismatic and talented trainer at SeaWorld Orlando lost her life when Tilikum grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into his tank. The attack on Brancheau was brutal and her injuries included scalping, a fractured jaw and a severed arm. What is truly heartbreaking about the attack on Brancheau, more so than the life that was extinguished is that she was just a girl who went to work that day.
It is safe to assume that Dawn Brancheau loved her job. All you have to do is look at video and pictures of Dawn with her whales to know Brancheau was doing what she loved. Samantha Berg a former SeaWorld trainer interviewed in "Blackfish" said that "Dawn captured what it means to be a SeaWorld trainer." What is heartbreaking about the Dawn Brancheau incident is that it is the death of a woman who loved SeaWorld, loved working with killer whales and genuinely cared for these animals that has turned the industry up on its head. As we fight to make sure whales like Tilikum are treated with the respect they deserve we must never forget the life and career of a woman who wanted nothing but the best for the animals she so deeply cared for.
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